United Way to distribute $1.2M to support local programs

United Way of Lake County continues to support programs that address critical needs in the community.

On June 15, United of Lake County CEO Jennifer McCarty and Community Impact Director Don Joss discussed how the funds will be distributed for fiscal year 2018.

The Lake County Free Clinic, which provides free health care services to people who are uninsured and underinsured, received the most money.

Collectively, its dental and medical programs were awarded $126,017.

The other top recipients are Lifeline, LakeGeauga Recovery, Salvation Army Citadel, Forbes House, Lake County Council on Aging, The YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Project Hope and Beacon Health.

UWLC also funded three new programs this year — Lifeline VITA, a free tax preparation help to assist low-income families and individuals with filing their taxes, YMCA Summer Learning Program that provides researchbased literacy education while students are out of school during the summer and Lake County General Health Project Dawn, a program that distributes Naloxone, also known as Narcan.

This year the Evaluations and Investment team of over 50 volunteers determined how to allocate a total of $1.2 million to over 40 agencies. Those agencies provide over 60 programs in five categories. Basic needs received $402,976, children and families received $267,179, health counseling received $203,829, health services received $229,117 and supporting seniors received $96,899.

Joss said the Evaluations and Investment panel dedicated over 2,500 hours reviewing and researching each program.

McCarty adds that the decision is based on what agencies are making the greatest impact.

To aid in this process, all of the agencies were invited to present information to the panel, she said.

Joss and McCarty said several agencies brought clients to express what the programs mean to them.

“When you read about a program on paper it’s one thing, but when you hear a client speak about it, or a board member or volunteer, it really brings it to life,” said McCarty. “It’s really important for the volunteers to dig in and look at impact. So the more avenues and more opportunities they have to learn about the agencies impact, the better stewards of donor money we can be. This was another good year.”

Moving forward, UWLC plans to work with other community agencies, increase the campaign and continue to be innovative.

“This was another good year,” she said.

— United of Lake County CEO Jennifer McCarty “When you read about a program on paper it’s one thing, but when you hear a client speak about it, or a board member or volunteer, it really brings it to life.”